The couple also intends to impact. “Our goal is not to focus too much on the problem. It’s the faces – not numbers. What Mark (Barone) is doing is creating a human interpretation so that each dog is a statement.”

Marina Dervan and Mark Barone.

Barone and Dervan first conceived of the exhibit when they prepared to adopt a dog while living in New Mexico, and learned the sobering statistic. “Do you just do nothing?” Dervan asked. “We must think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight.”

With Dervan acting as the primary spokesperson, Barone went to work painting. “Oh my God,” Barone said, recalling the initial days of the project. “I’ve never been involved in using my work for social change and I’ve never taken on a body of work like this.”

For weeks, Barone painted 12 hours a day, knowing each canvas depicted a life that no longer existed. “There were tough weeks,” he said. “Tough, tough weeks.

The duo soon turned “An Act of Dog” into a nonprofit organization and made a commitment to create 5,500 portraits of canines who have been euthanized in shelters across the country, with the mission of doing their part to create a no-kill society, one person, one city, one state at a time. They also dedicated themselves to raising $20 million dollars to donate to no-kill shelters, animal rescue and foster groups and toward spay and neuter costs.

After speaking with representatives from dozens of cities in various states about housing the unfinished project, Dervan and Barone were finally connected to the Mellwood Art Center, which offered up studio space rent-free for two full years.

Thus far, Barone has painted more than 3,000 portraits and won’t stop until he reaches 5,500. But that may not happen in Louisville. The generous Mellwood “lease” – which was given gratis – comes to a close at the end of March.

“Our goal now is to partner with a city or a philanthropist, even, to house the paintings in a permanent space,” Dervan said. “We’d like to stay here in Louisville. The city gains. The community gains. It’d be a huge tourist attraction.”

It could also be much more.

“Mark (Barone) cashed in his retirement to support this project. We believe in it. We’ve dedicated our lives to it,” Dervan said. “We walk around so softly sometimes. This is our big stick. Hopefully the right people in Louisville will step up. It is only faith that keeps you going.”

If you’re interested in sponsoring a painting for $25 or connecting with Mark Barone and Marina Dervan, contact them at 270.519.0967, info@anactofdog.org or www.anactofdog.org.

About the Author

[gravatar email="angie@voice-tribune.com" size="60" alt="Angie Fenton" class="user-picture"]
Angie Fenton is Managing Editor of The Voice-Tribune, a Blue Equity company. She is also an entertainment correspondent for WHAS11's new morning show, "Great Day Live!", which debuted August 22 on Louisville's ABC affiliate. Additionally, Angie is an entertainment correspondent for the Saturday Morning Show with Ron 'n' Mel Fisher on 84WHAS (840 AM) and has served in the same capacity for Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks; Breeders' Cup; and Circuit of the Americas during the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix in November 2012. Angie also serves as an emcee, host, voiceover professional and on-camera commercial talent.
Angie has a bachelor’s and master’s in English from Central Michigan University and began her career as an adjunct professor at her alma mater. She is the youngest of five -- four of whom were adopted, including Angie, and none of whom are biologically related. She is also a Michigan native who moved to Kentucky in June 2002. Angie is owned by two dogs -- Herbie and Yoda -- and feels lucky to have loved and been loved by many more, including Pooch, Jessie, Onyx, Jack and Big Bud, who took his last breath on Christmas Day 2012.